Town Square

How do you feel about paying for Obama's fundraising

Original post made
by Colleen Anderson, Atherton: West Atherton,
on Apr 23, 2013

Just thought you should see the feedback I am getting please stick to your guns. Atherton should set a precedence, and we have the power to do so. The town is looking at renewing a parcel tax is that money coming out of the current parcel tax we pay? If voted through would our parcel tax pay for future Obama visits for fundraising. Please keep in mind understandable, but the secret service kept it a secret on where he was landing, when, ext. It isn't like it was an event open to the Bay Area. I contacted the city/police and could NOT be given any details for security reasons.
The Dames is looking at doing an event to raise money for our park and they are being quoted for the price of extra policing. They work hard at raising money for our park, and they have to pay. Why currently doesn't a fundraising event have to pay. What was the reason, and the bill last time we were told no (to go pound sand) on the bill? How much was the bill, and did it come out of the parcel tax in the end?
Take care,
Atherton Awristachatz
Colleen Anderson
lovemypaws@yahoo.com
(650) 369-4949 Home

Good luck in getting the reimbursement.

L.

Being that it was a fundraiser and not official Presidential business, his campaign or the hosts should cover it!
S.

Very logical, that makes total sense what you said.

At first, I just thought that it was an honor to have the President in town, even though I only voted
for him the first time.

Wish it had been explained that way on the news. Think it would have been better just
to have the Host or Hostess pay for the extra police protection upfront.
Another S.

On Apr 23, 2013, at 12:09 PM, Colleen Anderson wrote:

PRESIDENTIAL TAB: The town of Atherton is sending out bills to cover the expense of President Barack Obama's visit earlier this month. It wants $8,100 in reimbursement for planning and providing security for two events the president attended.

Who should pay the bill for things like extra police when the president is in town for fundraisers?

George,
Because it was for a fundraiser for the democratic party I feel they should pay the bill. If it was for a fundraiser to help a disaster I would feel differently. It costs tax payers more for him to travel then what he raises. He is the President of the USA, and once voted into office should represent everyone. Not just one party. I do not feel any president should do that. Focus on our country not fundraising at our expense. I feel very strongly about them paying out of the money raised. We should not have to pay as individual citizens for an event that a selected wealthy few went to.

For the record I don't care what party you vote for. I care about helping others. Spending money tax payers money on things like this I am not OK with. How many families would his trip out to Atherton have helped. What happened to just being an American, and voting for who you agree with most. People have lost their life's for our freedom. What happened in doing what you feel in your heart. Not a party. How many teacher salaries did his trip pay for?

Posted by seen this before
a resident of Atherton: other
on Apr 23, 2013 at 9:47 pm

There were many, many state and federal agencies involved in the presidents security for this visit --none of them required backup from the APD nor did either of the hosts request their involvement. Other than pressing the button for the robo call to residents about traffic delays, they were likely told to stand down and out of the way, like they usually are for presidential visits.
But what a great opportunity to show up anyway and set a precedents for billing absolutely everyone for it.
I hope nobody pays. The bill should be torn up by all.

Posted by agreed
a resident of Atherton: other
on Apr 23, 2013 at 9:51 pm

I agree. The Atherton police department was just window dressing at this function. It was handled by the secret service, CHP, and San Mateo sheriff. What Atherton should do next time is just tell the APD not to show up.

Posted by Colleen Anderson
a resident of Atherton: West Atherton
on Apr 23, 2013 at 10:16 pm

WHERE DO YOU WANT YOUR TAX PAYERS DOLLARS TO GO TO?
Recently Obama while in office did a fundraiser for the democratic party (04/03/2013 to 04/04/2013) in the bay area at tax payers expense. It is apparently a privilege to have him come to your city according to one government official (San Francisco). Atherton has taken a stand on making the fundraisers paying for what your normal tax payers dollars would go to. This would set a hugh precedence for future fundraising event to have to pay for what is current taxpayers expenses. Last time Atherton submitted a bill when Obama came to town they were told to go pound sand. More politely put from our government was "It's great to have a dignitary like that coming through your community, you should be welcoming their visit as opposed to requesting reimbursement, and I'm sorry, but no, we're not going to reimburse you for the expense,"
Now compare Atherton to San Francisco and San Jose. Neither city charges for beefed-up security for dignitaries. San Francisco police spent $62,000 on the president's visit earlier this month.
"We do not seek reimbursement for the service provided; he comes with a large security detail anyway," San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr said. "With all the safety precautions that we're cognizant of these days, we want to provide that," San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee said. "And the public wants to see it. If the pope came in, I'm not so sure we'd be charging everybody. We welcome a lot of our international leaders, as well as our president."
I personally called the Atherton police department on where, and when he was landing. I was told I could not be advised because of security reasons. Difference is these events are not open to the public, and with our country in a major financial crisis for most Americans why should we have to pay for fundraising for the democratic party. I don't care what party you represent. I care about America, and our tax dollars. Do you feel our tax dollars where best spent on raising money for one political party? Shouldn't the president of the United States be united with one group The United States of America. Where does "We the People" register with "We the People". I am spending you money raising it for one political party. Don't care about who died for our country. A mother is without a son. A father is without a child. A child is without a parent the list goes on. How do you think they feel if they belong to another party that there tax payers dollars for our freedom is being spent on travel time for one group.
Freedom isn't free. All presidents of the United States of America should remember they represent more than just us. They represent those that have died for this country for our freedom. Our freedom represents all of us. Not one party. I would hope in the future no president would spend my tax payers dollars on something as shallow as making an appearance in my city, or anyones city for that matter and spend my tax payers dollars on teachers, children, people that have fought for my country, animals,....... Not travel, and the secret service. The secret service in my understanding was put in place to protect who "We the People" voted for to keep him safe so he/she could continue to aid in keeping us safe from financial rune, and make this country a better place.
This is more than just Obama this is about what do we want to spend our tax payers dollars on, and who do we want our taxpayers to represent. I want any president to represent "The United States of America"

Posted by Coleen Anderson
a resident of Atherton: West Atherton
on Apr 23, 2013 at 10:30 pm

Agreed, Atherton PD played a part in Obama coming to town being safe. They made sure a number of issues were in place including road blocks and coverage. It isn't easy having the president coming to your town. Please do not belittle what they do. That to me isn't OK. Pick a different dog in this fight. I worked with them on this issue, and they truly cared to put their best foot forward. In my opinion they truly did. They were are one of the reasons the president felt safe coming to our town, along with many others $$$$$. You go from a sleepy little town with controllable crime to the president. It took a lot on their part to make sure we came across top notch. They rocked on this event. Please pick a different dog fight. On this one I will defend them to the hilt. I am not saying we haven't had corrupt cops I am just saying take it to a different blog. I am proud of what the new city manager is doing in this instance billing the issue & our government paying the bill. Our taxpayers paying the bill.

Posted by agreed
a resident of Atherton: other
on Apr 23, 2013 at 10:36 pm

This isn't about criticizing cops. I understand the APD was not asked by anyone to do anything. If they had been, I'd be 100% with you and the city manager  Obama, or the DNC, should pay that bill. Better yet, next time (after being asked), get them to agree to the bill up front (or decline to help). But how can you send a bill for something you weren't asked to do?

Posted by Colleen Anderson
a resident of Atherton: West Atherton
on Apr 23, 2013 at 10:58 pm

Seen This Before I am hoping you will change you option on the Atherton PD after reading this. There were some issues that were not put into place by other police enforcement that I sent an email to Atherton PD on. I thought it was no big deal, but it was. Atherton PD was all over it, and even sent a thank you email. They take pride. That I will give them credit for. Please remember before you belittle the entire police force it has been in my experience in the last 40 plus years just a few bad cops giving the rest of the cops a bad name. I truly understand your frustration with the police force over the years having bad cops, but on this detail they did an excellent job. Remember an officer came to my husband and I (mostly me I got him involved) asking for $10,000.00 under shady circumstances. That officer was given $250,000.00 without even a deposition. When I asked why I was told it was confidential, and they couldn't tell me how they spent my/your tax payer dollars. My/your parcel tax money. My husband was born here and is in Real Estate. She didn't go to our firm for a hard money second she came to us as Atherton residents. I really hear what you are trying to say. We spent a lot of sleepless nights wondering what would happen to us if we didn't give her the money. However this isn't what this blog is about. At some point we need to give the credit where credit is due. In this case Atherton PD did an amazing job, and deserve to get paid for it. Just not out of our parcel tax for a fund raiser. They also desire the acknowledgment that they did an amazing job.

Posted by Coleen Anderson
a resident of Atherton: West Atherton
on Apr 23, 2013 at 11:21 pm

Agreed: point very well taken. Thank you for pointing out a flaw in the system. You are right. They knew who was hosting the parties, and should have informed them ahead of time someone had to pay the bill, but just not the taxpayers. Thank you for opening my mind. I now see your point of view. Thank you job well done in a kind way to help me understand what you were trying to convey. I am smarter having had this blog thing thanks to you. Great job. I am sorry if I misread what you were trying to convey. Please accept my heart felt apology. You have a very valid point. Thanks to you I have a better understanding of what I would have wanted. We should have sent them the bill ahead of time. DAAAA. What a concept. Well, thought out. Again your idea is the best. I just wish with comments like that you wouldn't hide behind a fake name. You have a lot to offer under your name. That is a true compliment. Stand up for your truth. Freedom isn't free. I have no problem backing what I say. It may cost my husband clients, or may make people want to list with him, but we love this country and what it stands for. We love this town. This is in our blood.
Again thank you. I will send an email to our town with your wonderful idea in the future.

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